Developing capacity in Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia in advanced nuclear science and technology techniques.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Brighton
Department Name: Sch of Computing, Engineering & Maths
Abstract
It is the intent of the present bid to provide the basis for a wider and longer term research relationship in nuclear physics and associated technologies with countries in the south, west and east of Africa. The principal aims of the bid are to a) strengthen collaboration in Nuclear Physics between physicists in the UK, South Africa and other African nations, b) transfer knowledge and skills between the collaborating parties and c) provide opportunities for education and training for African nations. The main focus will be on gamma-ray spectroscopy where both the UK and South Africa have expertise and will be based around the iThemba LABS (Laboratory for Accelerator Based Sciences) in South Africa which is the pre-eminent laboratory in the African continent for nuclear physics research.
Planned Impact
Following the initial workshop, the next step will be to establish working collaborations which could include reciprocal visits for students and post-docs and longer term exchange visits by staff. In terms of the scientific research, the impact could be measured in terms of the number of new users at the experimental facilities at iThemba LABS, the number of new collaborative proposals for experiments at iThemba LABS on specific research topics and more broadly for an increased visibility in the international community for the scientists from Botswana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. If appropriate, this workshop could be the first step in the procedure of joining major international collaborations such as the NUSTAR experimental pillar at the FAIR facility.
A parallel development which would have a big impact would be a collaboration between the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) and the UK National Physical Laboratory both of which have expertise in metrology and, of particular relevance for this proposal, in terms of techniques used for environmental monitoring of radiation. The development of new digital signal processing techniques which can discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays could have a big impact on this field.
A parallel development which would have a big impact would be a collaboration between the National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) and the UK National Physical Laboratory both of which have expertise in metrology and, of particular relevance for this proposal, in terms of techniques used for environmental monitoring of radiation. The development of new digital signal processing techniques which can discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays could have a big impact on this field.
Organisations
- University of Brighton (Lead Research Organisation)
- Covenant University (Collaboration)
- North-West University (Collaboration)
- The Botswana International University of Science & Technology (Collaboration)
- University of Douala (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (Collaboration)
- Stellenbosch University (Collaboration)
- iThemba LABs (Collaboration)
- University of Lagos (Collaboration)
- Federal University Lokoja (Collaboration)
- University of Cape Town (Collaboration)
- University of Dar es Salaam (Collaboration)
Description | This award has laid the foundations for collaboration between researchers in Botswana, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and the UK all of whom are using nuclear techniques to monitor environmental radiation. Initial discussions took place about joint training for masters and PhD students and building up a pool of equipment which could be used to measure environmental samples from across Africa. |
Exploitation Route | Outcomes could be developed into a funded programme to address problem of environmental radiation e.g. in mining areas in Nigeria. |
Sectors | Environment |
URL | https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/70/overview |
Description | Addresses sustainable development goals 4,6 and 12. 4 researchers from Nigeria who work on the same topic but have not met before will start a collaboration. They are discussing setting up an MoU between their universities and iThemba LABS. 11 students (including 7 from South Africa and 1 from Nigeria) were able to present their work in front of an international audience. A good discussion on South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) was facilitated between staff from Botswana, Nigeria, SA, UK. Researchers from the National Metrology Institute of South African (NMISA) and UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL) are discussing collaborating. Staff at Botswana, Cameroon, Nigeria, South African and Tanzanian universities were introduced to the 'Binding Blocks' public engagement tool. |
First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
Sector | Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Stakeholder engagement in sub-saharan Africa on the topic of Advanced Nuclear Science and Technology Techniques |
Amount | £17,986 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/S006516/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2019 |
End | 07/2019 |
Description | BIUST |
Organisation | The Botswana International University of Science & Technology |
Country | Botswana |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support this workshop https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/70/overview and I was a co-director of the workshop. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from BIUST attended the workshop and contributed to the scientific programme. They took a strong role in the discusison of the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) |
Impact | The South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) has started a strong training programme for PGR students. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Cameroon |
Organisation | University of Douala |
Country | Cameroon |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop and I was a co-director. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the University of Doula attended the workshop and played a strong role in the scientific discussion. |
Impact | There was much discussion of setting up a training network so that students from the University of Douala could use the equipment at iThemba LABS and then take the data back to Douala for analysis. A formal agreement is not yet in place. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Covenant University, Nigeria |
Organisation | Covenant University |
Country | Nigeria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop. I was a co-director of the workshop. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the Covenant University particpated in the workshop and played an active part in the scientific discussion. |
Impact | Staff from the Covenant University met other researchers from the same country who work on the same topic but who they had not met before. They are discussing starting a collaboration and setting up an MoU between their universities and iThemba LABS. Staff from the Covenant University participated in a good discussion about how the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) could be developed |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Dar es Salaam |
Organisation | University of Dar es Salaam |
Country | Tanzania, United Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support a workshop and I was the co-director. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the University of Dar es Salaam attended the workshop and played a strong part in the scientific discussion. |
Impact | An MoU has been signed between the University of Dar es Salaam and iThemba LABS for the training of PGR students. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Lokoja, Nigeria |
Organisation | Federal University Lokoja |
Country | Nigeria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop. I was a co-director of the workshop. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the Federal University Lokoja particpated in the workshop and played an active part in the scientific discussion. |
Impact | Staff from the Federal University Lokoja met other researchers from the same country who work on the same topic but who they had not met before. They are discussing starting a collaboration and setting up an MoU between their universities and iThemba LABS. Staff from the Federal University Lokoja particpated in a good discussion about how the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) could be developed. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Stellenbosch University |
Organisation | University of Stellenbosch |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Organised a workshop |
Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to the workshop |
Impact | Ongoing collaboration, including applications for further funding. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of Cape Town |
Organisation | University of Cape Town |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Cape Town staff and students presented. |
Collaborator Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Cape Town staff and students presented. |
Impact | I organised the workshop at which University of the Cape Town staff and students presented. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of Lagos, Nigeria |
Organisation | University of Lagos |
Country | Nigeria |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop. I was a co-director of the workshop. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the University of Lagos particpated in the workshop and played an active part in the scientific discussion. |
Impact | Staff from the University of Lagos met other researchers from the same country who work on the same topic but who they had not met before. They are discussing starting a collaboration and setting up an MoU between their universities and iThemba LABS. Staff from the University of Lagos particpated in a good discussion about how the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) could be developed |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of the North west, south africa |
Organisation | North-West University |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to support the workshop. I was a co-director of the workshop. |
Collaborator Contribution | Staff from the North West University participated in the workshop and played an active part in the scientific discussion. |
Impact | Staff from the North West University particpated in a good discussion about how the South African Institute of Nuclear Technology and Science (SAINTS) could be developed |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | University of the Western Cape |
Organisation | University of the Western Cape |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Western Cape staff and students presented. |
Collaborator Contribution | I organised the workshop at which University of the Western Cape staff and students presented. |
Impact | I organised the workshop at which University of the Western Cape staff and students presented. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | iTHEMBA LABS |
Organisation | iThemba LABs |
Department | Nuclear Physics |
Country | South Africa |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | GCRF funds were used to fund the workshop and I was a co-director of the workshop. |
Collaborator Contribution | iTHEMBA LABS hosted the workshop https://indico.tlabs.ac.za/event/70/overview. They contributed financially to the costs of the workshop and scientifically in the workshop programmme. Dr Pete Jones from iThemba LABS was a co-director of the workshop. |
Impact | MoU set up between iThemba LABS and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for training of PGR students. |
Start Year | 2018 |